Football transfer news

Whether it be by protecting their defence, supplying their attack, or a bit of both, some midfielders are really making their mark in Qatar.

Here are 90min’s top performing midfielders from the first two rounds of the 2022 World Cup.

After a quiet opening match against Morocco, Kovacic was at his very best against Canada, completely dominating the midfield.

Amrabat has come up against star-studded midfields in his first two matches and has more than held his own against both Croatia and Belgium, being the stand-out player in the middle of the park in both games.

Bellingham was glorious in England’s opening match but couldn’t do much in their second, unable to make his mark on the 0-0 draw with the US.

Carvalho did well off the bench against Ghana and impressed from the start against Uruguay, providing a platform for his more creative midfield partners to flourish.

Pedri followed up a stunning performance against Costa Rica with a solid, if somewhat unspectacular, one against Germany.

Griezmann has thrived in midfield for France thus far, getting one assist and creating countless chances.

Rabiot was excellent going forward against Australia, getting a goal and an assist, and displayed his defensive abilities against Denmark, protecting his backline well.

After dazzling against Costa Rica, Gavi showed another side of his game against Germany, holding his own in a physical midfield battle.

We’ll let the numbers do the talking here: two matches, two goals, two assists. Enough said.

We all know Casemiro is a top defensive midfielder, but he’s impressing at the other end too in Qatar, getting a great goal and creating a number of chances.

Croatia face Belgium on Thursday afternoon in a meeting between two medallists from the 2018 World Cup.

Both sides may have reached the semi-finals in Russia but a passage to the round of 16 in Qatar is not certain for either nation heading into the final game of Group F.

Zlatko Dalic’s runners-up are better placed after victory against Canada took them to four points; a draw would send Croatia through. Belgium’s position is more precarious in the wake of a limp loss to Morocco.

Roberto Martinez’s side could theoretically qualify with one more point but only if winless Canada defeat Morocco by four or more goals in the other group game. A win would confirm Belgium’s qualification and leave Croatia sweating over Morocco’s result.

Here’s everything you need to know about a devilishly poised encounter.

Croatia vs Belgium H2H Results (All Time)

Current Form (Last Five Games)

Croatia team news

Nikola Vlasic started Croatia’s opener against Morocco but was removed with a calf problem at half-time. The West Ham loanee recovered to make the bench against Canada but his replacement, Marko Livaja, delivered a strong argument to retain his starting berth with a crisply struck goal.

The arrival of a traditional striker shifted Andrej Kramaric to the right wing, where he scored twice on Sunday afternoon.

Croatia Starting 11 (4-3-3): Livakovic; Juranovic, Lovren, Gvardiol, Sosa; Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic; Kramaric, Livaja, Perisic.
Bench: Grbic, Ivusic, Erlic, Vida, Sutalo, Barisic, Stanisic, Jakic, Sucic, Majer, Osric, Pasalic, Petkovic, Budimir, Vlasic.

Belgium team news

Romelu Lukaku was deemed fit enough to come on for the final ten minutes of Belgium’s surprise defeat to Morocco. The Inter striker hasn’t started a match for club or country since August and may still be short of the fitness required to lead the line. However, with another four days to continue his recovery, Lukaku could make a longer cameo at least.

Amadou Onana will play no part after collecting a second, suspension-inducing booking against the Atlas Lions.

Belgium Starting 11 (3-4-2-1): Courtois; Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Castagne; Meunier, Tielemans, Witsel, Trossard; De Bruyne, E Hazard; Batshuayi.
Bench: Casteels, Mignolet, Debast, Faes, Theate, Dendoncker, Vanaken, De Ketelaere, T Hazard, Carrasco, Doku, Lukaku, Mertens, Openda.

Belgium to win & Romelu Lukaku to score – Belgium have won their last two meetings with Croatia in all competitions, with Romelu Lukaku netting all three of their goals across these victories.

Croatia to win – Croatia have won six of their last seven matches in all competitions, while Belgium have lost three of their last four.

Croatia to beat Belgium in the final game of Group F is currently 17/10*

Draw? No – None of Belgium’s last 16 World Cup games have ended level, winning 12 and losing four.

Belgium to score? Yes, exactly one – Despite scoring in 51 of their last 53 games in allcompetitions, Belgium have scored more than one goal in just one of their last seven matches.

Croatia under 1.5 goals – Croatia have scored more than once in just one of their eight meetings with Belgium in all competitions.

Belgium to score first and lose – Croatia have conceded first in five of their last six World Cup matches (W2 D2 L1), although they’ve come back to win two of the last three.

Anytime scorer – Andrej Kramaric has scored three goals in his last three international appearances, netting two of his three shots on target last time out against Canada.

Andrej Kramaric is currently 13/2 to score first for Croatia against Belgium*

Anytime scorer – Michy Batshuayi has scored five of his eight shots on target for Belgium in 2022, netting their only goal so far at the 2022 World Cup.

Insights courtesy of Opta. Head to The Analyst Stats Hub for live group stage standings, top scores, match metrics, team stats and much more!

*Odds correct at time of publication. 18+. Please gamble responsibly. BeGambleAware.org

There are a lot of familiar faces in both squads from the podium finishes in 2018 but Belgium seem to be anchored more firmly in the past. Ten players that featured in their semi-final defeat to France four-and-a-half years ago have already appeared this winter.

Kevin De Bruyne’s pre-tournament admission that his nation has “no chance” of winning the World Cup because “we’re too old” has been painfully apparent in a pair of listless performances.

Martinez pledged: “We will play to win against Croatia and that will be the start of us at this World Cup.” However, if they produce the same lumbering display on Thursday, it will be the end of Belgium at this World Cup.

Prediction: Croatia 2-1 Belgium

Penalty shootouts are synonymous with tournament football and the World Cup has played host to many thrills and spills from 12 yards since its 1930 inception.

They are the cruellest way for any side to taste defeat and thus exit the competition, but they are a part and parcel of the sport. Further heartbreak is expected in 2022 as we prepare for the knockout stages of the Qatari World Cup.

Very few World Cup shootouts are long-lasting, however. Just two in the history of the tournament have ever lasted 14 spot-kicks.

Fancy taking a trip down memory lane? Here’s a recollection of the two longest penalty shootouts in World Cup history.

The 1982 World Cup semi-final between West Germany and France is entrenched in infamy.

A thrilling back-and-forth contest that undoubtedly boasted one of the most enthralling extra-time periods in World Cup history was overshadowed by Harald Schumacher’s assault on Patrick Battison in the second half that remarkably failed to draw a red card from the pocket of Charles Corver.

Battison lost three teeth and was rendered comatose as a result, with Schumacher eventually playing a pivotal role in West Germany’s success.

The entire footballing world willed the romantic but inexperienced French side to win in the shootout but it was the efficient and recently disgraced Germans who prevailed despite falling behind 3-1 in extra time.

Goals from substitute Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Klaus Fischer took this all-time World Cup classic to penalties where Schumacher saved Didier Six and Maxime Bossis’ spot kicks to help West Germany into the final.

Romania’s ‘Golden Generation’ emerged as the neutral’s favourite in 1994 as the magic left boot of Gheorghe Hagi spearheaded their best-ever World Cup finish. After stunning Argentina 3-2 in the round of 16, Romania took on Sweden for a place in the semi-finals.

The contest took some time to ignite, but supporters were treated to a spectacle when it did. Tomas Brolin gave Sweden the lead after 78 minutes before Florin R?ducioiu equalised with just a couple of minutes remaining.

R?ducioiu’s heroics continued in extra-time as he fired home his second just before Stefan Schwarz received his second yellow card to leave the trailing Swedes at a man disadvantage. Sweden failed to fold, however, and they restored parity five minutes from time thanks to a Kennet Andersson header.

Penalties beckoned and, once again, it was Romania who seemed destined to progress after Stig Mild missed Sweden’s first spot kick. Romania were perfect up until their fourth taker, Daniel Petrescu, missed. A young Henrik Larsson converted Sweden’s first penalty of sudden death before Miodrag Belodedici had his effort saved by Thomas Ravelli.

Sweden would fall to a late Romario goal in the semi-finals, while Romania have since failed to reach the heights of their memorable campaign in the States.

Two nations have won four World Cup penalty shootouts:

Argentina embarked on a miraculous penalty shootout run in 1990 as they advanced through to the final off the back of back-to-back shootout victories. Diego Maradona’s side beat Yugoslavia and Italy before being beaten by West Germany 1-0 – courtesy of an Andreas Brehme penalty, ironically.

They failed to make the most of their shootout victory over England in 1998 as a Dennis Bergkamp-inspired Holland beat Argentina in the quarter-finals. In 2014, they got one over the Dutch on penalties to advance into the final before those pesky Germans struck again.

Speaking of, Germany are regarded as the masters from 12 yards. They’ve never lost a World Cup penalty shootout. However, just once (1990) have they gone on to win the tournament after winning a shootout in the knockout stages. They were beaten finalists in 1982 and 1986, and defeated in the semi-finals in 2006.

Three major European nations have been beaten in three World Cup penalty shootouts:

England’s torrid relationship with penalty shootous plagued the Three Lions either side of the Millennium. While each defeat was heartbreaking in its own right, the semi-final exit at the hands of West Germany at Italia ’90 undoubtedly goes down as the biggest ‘What If’ in England’s World Cup history as a beatable Argentina awaited in the final.

In 2018, Gareth Southgate’s side overcame the demons of yesteryear to win their first-ever World Cup shootout in the round of 16 against Colombia.

Italy’s wretched record in shootouts peaked in 1994 as Roberto Baggio blazed over the Azzurri’s fifth penalty to hand Brazil their fourth World Cup. That defeat was the second of three consecutive World Cup penalty shootout eliminations for the Italians.

Spain’s woes have each been separated by 16 years, which means supporters have until 2034 before they endure more shootout heartbreak. They’ve twice been beaten on penalties by the host nation (South Korea 2002, Russia 2018).

La Liga have demanded that Juventus face disciplinary action following the resignation of the club’s entire board of directors.

President Andrea Agnelli and vice-president Pavel Nedved were among those to offer their resignations following an investigation into alleged false accounting and communication, including the payment of salaries during the Covid-19 pandemic.

La Liga, who have formally complained about Juventus’ finances in the past, have now demanded further action.

“After the resignation of the Juventus Board of Directors late on Monday, November 28, LaLiga demands that sports sanctions be applied immediately to the club,” a statement read.

“LaLiga already filed an official complaint against Juventus with UEFA in April 2022 in which it reported violations of the financial fair play regulations that the Italian Guardia di Finanza was investigating.

“Specifically, the complaint accused Juventus of accounting for transfers above their fair value and underestimating employee expenses, which is a breach of UEFA’s financial fair play. In addition, the complaint accused Juventus of hiding the true salary bill of its players.

“This Monday, in the same note issued by the Board of Directors, the Juve representatives acknowledge very serious financial accounting irregularities, which are also intended to deceive UEFA’s competent financial fair play authorities, among others.

Harry Symeou hosts Scott Saunders and Toby Cudworth to look back on South Korea/Japan ’02 as part of the ‘Our World Cup’ series. We take a trip down memory lane – join us!

If you can’t see the podcast embed, click here to download or listen to the episode in full!

“LaLiga, with the aim of promoting financially sustainable football in Europe, maintains these complaints against Juventus and requests that the competent authorities apply immediate sporting sanctions to the club.

“La Liga has long been one of the leading advocates for the establishment, application and enforcement of strict financial sustainability rules in football. In April this year, LaLiga filed complaints for breach of financial fair play with UEFA against Juventus, but also against Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain.

“The Spanish competition itself has applied its ‘economic control’ rules for almost a decade, at the request of the clubs that make up LaLiga. Financial sustainability is paramount to protecting the soccer business. Let’s protect our football.”

The World Cup in Qatar continues apace as we head into the final round of group fixtures, but just in case you’ve been overwhelmed by the four fixtures we’ve had each and every day (RIP) and missed some of the action, this is the only thing you need to catch up: a countdown of all the best goals.

Here are the bangers, the screamers, the crème de la crème of all the World Cup goals scored from Friday through Monday. Enjoy.

Where else to start? Given what was at stake for both Argentina and Lionel Messi this is probably the goal of the tournament so far. It’s certainly the moment of the World Cup. Just look at those celebrations from the Argentinian players.

The goal itself isn’t bad, either.

Messi took the headlines but on any other night, 21-year-old Benfica midfielder Enzo Fernandez would have earned the lion’s share of plaudits for this beauty. The feet were dazzling, the finish even better. A decent first goal for his country, truth be told.

What a finish this is. It’s like something a fifteen-year-old would do to you on FIFA.

Vincent Aboubakar came off the bench to devastating effect for Cameroon against Serbia, leading the comeback from 3-1 back to 3-3. This ridiculous scoop – likely a ‘why not?’ decision because Aboubakar thought he was offside – belongs in the Louvre. Stunning.

Whereas that goal was all Aboubakar, this one is about the team as Serbia surge forward in numbers and keep their composure to create an easy tap-in for Aleksandar Mitrovic. This is football how it’s meant to be played.

This left-footed rasper to open the scoring against Ecuador was a beauty from Cody Gakpo. The boy is a surefire star and has two goals in two games for the Netherlands so far. Coming soon to a Premier League near you.

There’s only one word to describe Niclas Fullkrug’s dramatic equaliser against Spain: BOSH.

The Werder Bremen striker came off the bench to earn a valuable point for the Germans and keep them in the tournament. Head down and laces through it, just like he was taught. Unai Simon had no chance.

Iran’s first goal wasn’t bad but due to suspect goalkeeping, I’m plumping for their second from the exhilarating stoppage time win over Wales. This chipped finish from Ramin Rezaeian is just *chef’s kiss*. He made it look easy.

Some technique for a defensive midfielder. Casemiro’s gorgeous volley against Switzerland makes it despite a slight knick off Manuel Akanji’s rear end, but really, who cares about that? This is how you win a tight match in the 82nd. An individual moment of brilliance.

Never the easiest on the eye, Mitchell Duke finds his way into this week’s best goals with a superb improvised header. How often do you see a deflected cross bounce up to meet the striker? Duke’s timing was perfect and this goal gave Australia a huge 1-0 win against a fancied Tunisian side.

And we’ll end on a high note, with Zakaria Aboukhlal’s hammer blow to Belgium. It’s great work by Hakim Ziyech in the build-up and smashed home in style to secure Morocco a momentous 2-0 win over Belgium.

Just look at those limbs behind the goal. Spine-tingling stuff, exactly how the World Cup is meant to be.